BELGRADE, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and European Council President Antonio Costa met in Belgrade on Thursday to discuss institutional reforms, economic integration, and regional security ahead of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in neighboring Montenegro.

During their joint press conference, Vucic reaffirmed that European Union (EU) membership remains Serbia's strategic objective - despite talks stagnating in recent years. Meanwhile, Costa framed EU enlargement as a vital geopolitical investment in continental stability.

Vucic expressed Serbia's frustration over the lack of progress in the accession talks, arguing that the conflict in Ukraine has been the main factor behind the five-year impasse.

Costa, for his part, reiterated that the EU remains open to Serbia's membership, but stressed that progress depends on Belgrade's reforms. He said the bloc is seeking ways to speed it up, including through closer engagement with the Western Balkans and efforts to improve the accession framework.

Highlighting the economic strength of bilateral ties, Vucic said annual trade in goods and services between Serbia and the EU is now worth 58 billion euros (about 67.48 billion U.S. dollars). He added that Serbia now accounts for over 57 percent of the Western Balkans' exports to the EU, driven by free trade arrangements and European investment.

Serbia applied for EU membership in 2009 and launched accession talks in 2014, but the process has stalled since December 2021 despite its opening of 22 of 35 negotiating chapters.